Siem Reap, Cambodia: Take a guided hike with Indochine Exploration through the protected Cambodian jungle of Phnom Kulen National Park. Located about an hour and a half north of Siem Reap, Phnom Kulen is home to a community-protected area of mainly intact evergreen and boulder forest.
You will leave early in the morning for this forest that surrounds Preah Ang Thom, the largest community on the mountain. As you drive to the village, your guide will talk to you about how this conservation initiative involves local villagers who maintain the trails. By including them in the tour development, locals are provided with an income and therefore an incentive to help stop deforestation and help protect the wildlife.
After arriving and walking through the village, the trail heads into the forest with the canopy high above providing shade even in Cambodia’s hottest months. Hike along the cleared trails, while you keep your eyes open for the wildlife that inhabits the area – in addition to the flying squirrels and birds, rare Silver Langur monkeys were recently discovered in Kulen.
After passing over a boulder passageway and through an active bat cave, you will stop for lunch along the banks of the Kulen River before heading back to Preah Ang Thom to visit Cambodia’s largest reclining Buddha, and if you still have energy, take in the beauty of the Kulen Waterfall.
Note: Journeys Within’s one-day itinerary ideas are some of our favorite one-day activities – many of which are exclusive to Journeys Within. We do not book these one-day itineraries by themselves, but only as part of a full tour package.
